Chinese Language Blog

In 1972, President Nixon (尼克松 pronounced: Ní kè sōng) did something Western powers had been unable to do since the Opium Wars: open China to the rest of the world. Sure it took years of negotiations, the (timely) death of Chairman Máo Zé Dōng (毛泽东), and the ascension of Deng Xiao Ping as a policy leader before the lingering effects of Nixon’s visit were realized, but for all of his ills, character flaws and shady back door dealings, he got the ball rolling and ushered China into the global modern world.

Richard Nixon’s accomplishment still stands as one of the greatest diplomatic achievements of the 20th century. Now, in the 21st Century and with roles reversed, President Hu Jintao (and his successor) and the Chinese are reviving US-Sino diplomatic relations. Lets take a look at how modern Chinese-US relations began.

Thawing of US-Sino Relations:

In 1972, the world was a much different place as the ideological battle between capitalism and communism had crept into Asia. The Vietnam conflict was still fresh in everyone’s mind, while deteriorating relations between Beijing and the Kremlin were at an all-time high. Mao Ze Dong was suffering from an undisclosed illness, forcing many to question the direction China was headed in the coming years. The options were as follows: remain economically, culturally and politically isolated from the rest of the world (following pseudo-Soviet policies) or break with communist tradition and open up the mainland. Had it not been for suspicion and conflict between the CPC and USSR, Nixon might never have gotten the chance melt the icy US-Sino relations.

When Nixon landed in Beijing, he was the first US president to visit the mainland while in office. His uncharacteristic (and somewhat unexpected) visit to China did something very important: it established guān xì (关系) or “mutual trust relations” between the two nations. This created a framework (albeit bare-bones) in which future dialogues and conversations between the two nations could occur.

Upon his arrival in Beijing, Nixon was instantly ushered along to meet with the ailing Mao Ze Dong, who had been sick the 9 days preceding the visit. This offered the first real glimpse of what was “behind the bamboo curtain” for American officials and even the American public and press. After a week of meetings, travel and press opportunities, the two sides had found some common ground in the form of a drafted Communique.

At the conclusion of his trip, the United States and the PRC Governments issued the Shanghai Communiqué, a statement of their foreign policy views and a document that has remained the basis of Sino-American bilateral relations since. In the communiqué, both nations pledged to work toward the full normalization of diplomatic relations with the US officially recognizing China and Taiwan as only one nation or “one nation, two systems”  (the truncated phrase in Chinese, 一国两制 or Yìguó liǎngzhì), allowing the two nations to set aside the Taiwan issue, which was seen as the “crucial question obstructing the normalization of relations” and move on to issues pertaining to economics and politics.

After the visit, Nixon expressed the value of the trip to China for both present and future relations, proclaiming that:

“This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge.”

Nearly 40 years later, Nixon’s legacy still lives on and continues to shape US-Chinese diplomatic relations. While capitalism has taken hold in the mainland, there is still a great deal of tension between the US and China, caused mostly be lack of information about the other side. Within contemporary politics, the language of competition and conflict rings clear, while calls for cooperation fall mostly upon deaf ears. It’s a shame considering how intertwined the two nations are, and how important they are as compliments to global economy and international system.

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Seeing as we’ve already covered beer in a previous post, it’s time now to move on to the strong stuff and talk about China’s most popular spirit: 白酒 (bái jiǔ). If you want to experience drinking culture in China, baijiu will give you an epic crash course in boozing (not to mention a one hell of a hangover).

Baijiu is what Whiskey is to the Irish, Sake is the Japanese and Vodka is the Russians. And just like in all those cultures, when you drink baijiu, you drink with extreme purpose. So if the boss invites you out for some drinking and karaoke (卡拉OK), don’t worry about getting a little tipsy, because odds are you’re in for a wild, baijiu filled time. 干杯，朋友门！

Baijiu (also called 烧酒 shāojiǔ) quite literally means “white liquor” and is distilled from a variety of grains, most notably, sorghum. It comes in all sorts of bottles, big and small, and in plastic, glass, ceramic, and even stone containers. Baijiu can be clear in color or range from hues of yellow to red and brown.

Some baijius are flavored and have distinct fragrance, feel and taste. Like vodka and scotch/whiskey, baijiu is ranked in the “smoothness” of the drink and in purity and quality of distillation. Baijiu is also quite strong earning the moniker among Americans as “Chinese moonshine”.

Baijiu in it’s traditional form, will often have a snake or some kind of poisonous insect inside of it. These kinds of baijius are used as medicines or as aphrodisiacs. But modern day baijiu, that is all business. It has one goal and one goal only: to get you drunk or 喝醉了.

I like baijiu in all of its forms, whether it be a 7 kuai bottle of 二锅头 (èrguōtóu), or the truly fancy stuff that I’ve only had at weddings or among privileged military employees and costs hundred of US dollars. I will admit, though, that it is both an acquired taste and a way of life. Just give it a chance and let your palate adjust. Baijiu will grow on you. It just may take a little while.

Many 老外s that have their first brush with baijiu, barely can keep it down. I’ve heard it described as tasting like kerosene, rubbing alcohol and “dead brain cells”. Give it some time, and you’ll grow to like it. Just don’t make the same drinking faux pas as this laowai:

Needless to say, baijiu is very, very strong. Forget vodka, whiskey or gin, the average bottle of baijiu is much stronger and ranges between 42% and 66% (at least that’s the highest ABV I’ve had). It packs a punch to say the least, but tastes better with each little glass, so don’t get discouraged by the first sip. Just keep on slugging em down. After all, you don’t want to be rude.

Traditional baijiu glasses (白酒杯子)

When drinking baijiu with friends, family or employers, it’s always best to adhere to the certain drinking etiquette’s or 礼节 (lǐ jié). In case you missed it, here’s a post on Drinking Culture with basic drinking etiquette and rules. Once you get down the basics, here’s some baijiu specific rules to get you through the drinking gauntlet that awaits:

First off, it is rather impolite to refuse a drink or cigarette, even if you don’t drink or smoke. I’ve found it’s much easier just to say yes to any offering that comes your way, because “when in China…do as the Chinese do”. If they drink, you drink. If they smoke, you smoke. Plain and simple. Why are the Chinese so liberal in their liquor? I see it as both a way of showing their magnanimity and benevolence towards those around them. What a remarkable culture!

Second, it doesn’t fall upon you to fill up your own glass, but it does fall on you to fill up your fellow drinkers‘ 杯子 (bēi zi) of cups. Because drinking culture is contingent upon communal drinking, everyone must be wary of the volume in each persons glass. So in essence, your drinking pace is determined by the people sitting at the table with you and vice versa. Mutually assured drunkenness almost inevitably follows.

Look again, because that's not wine.

Lastly, be mindful of your toasts, namely who you give them to, and how you toast. Make sure the host always gets due credit, but also make sure you toast anyone who is of a higher status or 地位 (dì wèi). Show respect to elders and be humble. How you toast can be a variety of ways, but here are the few that I’ve come across:

1) Keep your glass below the lip of the host and/or person giving the toast’s glass to signify being humbled in their honor.

2) Clink your glasses on the lazy susan (or sometimes table) instead of clinking actual glasses together.

3) Always, ALWAYS, 干杯 (gān bēi) and finish your glass. China knows all about busch-league and you will get called out for not keeping up with the group.

Once you have those rules down, you’ll be good to go. Enjoy baijiu and all the rowdiness that ensues. Last time I had a baijiu night with workers, I drank a coworker–literally–under the table. He went to make a retaliatory toast back at me, raised his arm and lost his balance, crashing epically to the floor under the table. The best part about that: my boss brought him a pillow which he placed under his head and then made a toast in honor of his passed out employee. 干杯！

Follow Steve on twitter: @seeitbelieveit

What’s the music you hear on the subways and in taxis? Those love ballads mixed with wailing guitar rifts that serenade you throughout department stores and malls? Why that’s C-pop, China’s very own brand of pop music. C-pop or Chinese popular music (中文流行音乐 pronounced: zhōngwén liúxíng yīnyuè), is a loosely defined musical genre by artists originating from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan that is characteristically Chinese–made by Chinese people for Chinese people.

Like J-pop, Japan’s version of pop-culture music, C-pop is defined by linguistic roots, cultural peculiarities and media obsessions. C-pop is predominantly mandarin or 普通话 (pǔ tōng huà) and relates to populations either within the mainland and Taiwan area or transnational groups in the US and Southeast Asia. In Hong Kong, where cantonese or 广东话 (Guǎng dōng huà) is still predominantly spoken, C-pop has a much different sound due to the dialect and accents.

S.H.E., A popular female mandopop group.

There are currently three main subgenres within C-pop: Cantopop (Hong Kong), Mandopop (mainland), and Hokkien pop (Taiwan) which relate to linguistic and cultural differences based on geography. C-pop in mainland China relies on simplified characters or 简体字 (jiǎn tǐ zì), while Taiwan and Hong Kong prefer traditional characters or 繁体字 (fán tǐ zì).

C-pop includes a wide variety of musical genres, including everything from hip-hop to rock and R&B to “boy bands”. From my experience the majority of C-pop relates to “pop” sounding artists, including an attractive male of female artist singing sappy love songs (we do that here in the US too!). Then there are those songs of the techno-house variety that are sure to drive you insane after a few too many nights at Karaoke or 卡拉OK (kǎlā ōukèi) and the clubs.

As the Chinese domestic economy grows, C-pop will continue to enter the homes of millions of new fans, replacing the grip that western music has had on popular music in the mainland for quite some time. My question: Is the rest of the world ready for Chinese boy bands? Here’s Top Combine or 至上励合, one of the first boy bands from the mainland. You be the judge…

…I think I just had a seizure.

Follow Steve on twitter: @seeitbelieveit